It is a well-established fact that Josef Jakobs was executed at the Tower of London on 15 August 1941. What is not so clear is this: was Jakobs held at the Tower prior to his execution? Several stories variously suggest that he was held at the Tower (a) for the night prior to his death,
Was Josef Jakobs held as a prisoner of the Tower of London? Read More »
On the morning of 4 August, 1941, Josef Jakobs was driven from Wandsworth Prison to the Duke of York’s Headquarters. His court martial convened at 10:30 am and concluded at 1 pm the following day. The Duke of York’s Headquarters is a building located on King’s Road in the Chelsea area of London, just southwest
Court Martial of Josef Jakobs held at Duke of York’s Headquarters, Chelsea Read More »
On 18 August 1941, following the execution and autopsy at the Tower of London, Jakobs’ body was driven to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, in northwest London. A funeral service was held at the chapel, possibly presided over by the army chaplain who had ministered to Jakobs during the final weeks of his
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The Tower of London is apparently one of the most haunted places in the world. The ghosts of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Becket are said to wander the grounds and buildings of the Tower. The Yeoman Warders, former soldiers, who are presumably not prone to flights of fancy, have had many ghostly
Does the Ghost of Josef Jakobs haunt the Tower of London? Read More »
History of Wandsworth Prison Wandsworth Prison opened its doors in 1851 as The Surrey House of Correction. It was constructed using a modified “Panopticon” design with a central hub from which four wings radiated. Initially 700 prisoners were housed at Wandsworth each in an individual cell with toilet facilities. Eventually the toilet facilities were removed
German Spy Josef Jakobs Incarcerated in Wandsworth Prison – July 23 to August 15, 1941 Read More »
History of Dulwich Hospital St. Saviour’s Union Infirmary (a workhouse hospital) was was built in 1885 in East Dulwich Grove. It was designed by local architects, Henry Jarvis & Sons, and opened in 1887 with a capacity of 723 beds. The infirmary was constructed with a pavilion layout: a large administrative block with two wings
Josef Jakobs: An Invalid at Dulwich Hospital, London Read More »
Tourists in London flock to Buckingham Palace and the Wellington Barracks to see Changing the Guard. It is a spectacular event in which the company on duty assembles on the parade ground of Wellington Barracks and then makes its way to Buckingham Palace. The soldiers that guard the Queen’s residences are collectively known as the
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On the night of January 31, 1941, Josef Jakobs descended by parachute just southeast of the sleepy village of Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. His descent in the darkness was unnoticed. His capture the following morning was inevitable given that he had broken his ankle either departing the aircraft or upon landing in a potato field. He was
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The mystery and secrecy surrounding the capture of Josef Jakobs in 1941 has often made it difficult for researchers to track down accurate information on Jakobs and the circumstances surrounding his arrival in England. Over the years, two landing sites have been mentioned for Jakobs: North Stifford Village in Essex and Ramsey Village in Huntingdonshire.
Did Josef Jakobs land in North Stifford, Essex? Read More »
On the morning of February 1, 1941, the Ramsey Home Guard received word that a suspected spy (Josef Jakobs) had been discovered in a field near Dove House Farm. Situated near the RAF Upwood airbase, the Home Guard was primed to be on the lookout for suspicious folk. A simple phone call by Home Guard